It was November of 2022, and I felt utterly burnt out. I was barely crossing the starting line in my art but was already exhausted. In my journal, I wrote about how heavy that year felt—every aspect of my life was filled with noise, clutter, and chaos. I didn't know what to do with all that heaviness, so I turned to art and poetry in my dogged dedication to finding light, hope, and beauty amid the emotional wreckage.

I wrote a poem reminding myself of my capacity to climb mountains—a reminder that, like nature, I, too, am a force to be reckoned with. When times are tough, I turn to nature for nourishment. I am the type of person who needs to psychically climb a mountain to remind myself of my capacity to climb - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. There is an intimate tango between ruthlessness and radiance in nature, an energy that penetrates the souls, and I wanted to channel that energy within myself.

As this November approaches, I feel different. I look back at my journal and the goals I set for 2023. Last year, I set out to climb mountains. But this year, I set out to move mountains.

Matt and I made a pact—2024 would be the year we make magic happen. This year will be full of hard work, dedication, and dreams bigger than ever. We knew it would be a make-or-break year for aspects of our lives and businesses. We want to cross a threshold into a new era, which means making severe changes. We decided to set a new standard for how we operated, not just in our personal lives but in our work.

We knew we would have to shed some skin, let certain things go, and let certain things die for the things that mattered most to us to grow. We had to let go of limiting beliefs, destructive habits, and anything that no longer served us, including severing ties and relationships with people.

This included an objective look at where we invest our time, money, energy, and resources. As we discussed our dreams and goals, every conversation and every vision led us to Belize.

We imagined me creating art surrounded by the inspiration of the ocean and jungle. Matt would make his famous pizzas and host karaoke nights on the beach, and every Sunday would still be Taco Sunday.

We saw ourselves creating a space that brought people together, where art and adventure could intertwine to create unforgettable memories.

Earlier this year, I shared glimpses of the corporate art commission project for Tesoro Island Resort—a private island resort with five villas on Wee Wee Caye, Belize. What I may not have shared is that I'm not just the artist behind the resort's artwork; Matt and I are investors in the island, the resort, and members of the development team seeing this vision come to fruition.

Every six weeks, we travel to Belize to check on progress. And while I initially thought my role would be limited to creating artwork for the villas, it has evolved into so much more. I've been designing branding assets, working on merchandise, sourcing uniforms, designing bar menus, taking photos, writing website content, and shooting videos. It's everything that comes with starting a business, all while developing a cohesive body of work inspired by the animals native to Belize.

Admittedly, this year has been filled with twists and turns, betrayals, disappointments, and a lot of resistance. This year has been harder than I ever imagined. This project has become another full-time job (if you didn't know, I work alongside three other amazing artists, all while developing my art career and helping to manage the other businesses in our portfolio).

Most days, I feel like I'm trudging through concrete. There are gargoyles at the gate trying to stop me in my tracks and prevent me from crossing through. They're the voices that whisper, "Who do you think you are? You can't do this. Shrink back down to your lowly comfort zone."

I'm afraid and filled with anxiety about how all of this is going to turn out. Am I going to meet these deadlines that are fast approaching? I have how many paintings to finish?? Will we gain enough traction to book out the resort for the entire year? What is phase two of the development of the over-the-water bungalows going to look like? We are two years into this project, and I feel like we are JUST getting started.

And yet, if my dreams didn't scare me, I wouldn't be dreaming big enough.

There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done, including producing more artwork for the island and developmental duties for the resort. Resistance may be the most powerful at the finish line, but I'm 1000% positive we will get it done at the end of the day. I'm 1000% positive that we will book the island out. I'm 1000% positive this project will succeed because we are building something truly magical and memorable. I believe in this project wholeheartedly.

It's one of those things that may take more time, cost more money, and push me beyond what I thought I could handle. But it's also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I look back and laugh at my own naïveté—what did you think, Taylor, when you decided to build an island resort in another country?

I'm on the cusp of a breakthrough in my life and, especially in my art. For the first time, I've created a cohesive body of work that I'm truly proud of. I see my voice and style as an artist emerging in a way it never has before. My skills as a digital marketer and entrepreneur elevate. I see my tolerance for frustration and uncertainty expand. I've learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable because being uncomfortable is the only path to success - and I am definitely on that path.

I accept that this is a season of hard. I asked for this. I signed up for it. And rather than resisting the resistance, I'm learning to lean into it.

Every day, it's a battle to face that resistance and say, "No. I didn't come this far, to only come THIS far." I'm embracing the struggle and channeling the warrior within, knowing the battle must be fought anew each day.

I'm glad my dreams scare me. I'm glad it's hard. I'm glad it's testing my courage, convictions, and discipline. The exhaustion I feel right now means I'm on the right path. It means I'm moving mountains.

And now, I'm thrilled to share that we are just one week away from our soft opening from November 1st to 30th. We're inviting friends and family to be among the first to experience Tesoro Island Resort. Your lodging on the island is complimentary during this soft opening period, and in return, we ask for your honest feedback to help us create the ultimate guest experience.

I'll be traveling to the island next week and look forward to popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate this milestone. I look forward to choosing the spots where my artwork will be displayed and seeing all the final details come into place.

If you're interested in booking a stay or have any questions, please contact our Tesoro VIP Concierge service at concierge@tesoroislandresort.com. Our doors will be officially open to paying guests starting December 1st. I can't wait for you to experience the magic of Tesoro Island and the art that's been woven into its very soul.

Thank you for being a part of this journey, and I can't wait to share this breakthrough with you.